Blind Triathlete

[teigyr]

Did anyone see this?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/others...iathlon18.html

Amazing. Especially because I aspire to do a mere sprint tri in under two hours AND I can see

[Eden]

I seem to recall that there was a blind woman (actually I think she may have been blind and deaf!) who did the Danskin here in Seattle last year (I don't know if she did it this year also). I remember there was some explanation because her husband, obviously not a female in an all woman race was her guide.

[Tri Girl]

Wow- doesn't that blow you away? I watched a show recently about a guy competing in the world triathlon race (I think in Hamburg) who was blind. His guide was a professional triathlete. That just boggles my mind. To think they can swim and bike is amazing (the running is amazing, too- but you can only trip there- not drown or crash). The pro riding the front on the tandem said he has a hard time keeping the pace up enough for the guy (in all three disciplines).
How inspiring (and makes me get my butt out there when I don't want to because I CAN).

[teigyr]

It just amazes me. Think about running in the dark and even if someone was near you to guide you, just how scary it would be! There are potholes and bumps and tree roots and all sorts of things.

Of course I'm the girl with scabs on her hand because I fell off our porch stairs. There's only 3-4 steps but it was dark out and, er, yeah. I'm almost ashamed to admit that no alcohol was involved.

[brok]

the language has changed when referring to an individual who has a disability to person-first, then the disability. For example instead of blind traithlete, it would be triathlete who is blind (or more accurately visually impaired/blind) which uses person-first language. Disabilities are not persons and they do not define persons. Persons with disabilities should defined as a person with a disability, not a disability with a person attached. I teach adapted physical education and those with disabilities are near and dear to my heart. Each of them has a special gift and deserved to be recognize for themselves not his or her disability. I just wanted you all to know - thanks for listening.

[teigyr]

hmmm, that is good to know. I'm pretty much blunt and probably non-PC. I'm in an environment where we say things as they are and it doesn't mean anything bad, it just is what it is. I figured the article was written about him because he was blind. Granted, he is talented but the main emphasis was his disability. He is not his disability but not many people would overcome such a thing and become such a success. I think THAT is the story, not that he could do an Oly in under 2 hours. And I do know that many people overcome obstacles every day so because I'm so impressed by him it doesn't mean that I'm not impressed by other people. And before I dig myself into a hole...it's bedtime

I will try to remember that. The language changes tend to go right by me and I don't always catch when they change but I will do what I can